One of the Czech Republic's iconic landmarks: the Prague Astronomical Clock. The Czech Republic was formerly a communist state. In 1989, the country witnessed the renowned 'Velvet Revolution,' during which the people successfully overthrew the communist regime without bloodshed, restoring democracy and freedom, and significantly revitalizing the economy. (Screenshot from video)
[People News] A Czech citizen was recently detained in China, prompting Pavel Fischer, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, to urge House Speaker Tomio Okamura to cancel his planned visit to China. Former Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský criticized the Czech Foreign Ministry for not issuing a travel warning for China. This incident serves as a striking example of 'hostage diplomacy' and 'transnational repression' within the current international geopolitical and diplomatic context of 2026. Following the Chinese Communist Party's revisions to the 'Anti-Espionage Law' and the 'National Secrets Protection Law,' among other national security regulations, the risks for foreigners operating in China have significantly increased. The provisions of these laws are often vague, granting law enforcement agencies extensive powers to define what constitutes 'espionage activities' or 'endangering national security.'
According to reports from the Central News Agency, a Czech citizen was invited by the Chinese Communist Party to assist with the certification of airport radar equipment in China. However, it has recently emerged that he was arrested by authorities on charges of 'suspected endangering national security.' This incident comes just as Fumio Okamura, the Speaker of the Czech House of Representatives, is set to visit China. Okamura will lead a delegation of approximately 40 people from the 19th to the 25th, which includes the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and business leaders, with the goal of enhancing Czech-China bilateral economic cooperation and tourism development.
Pavel Fischer, the Chairman of the Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security, expressed on the social media platform X on the 16th that, in light of the recent detention of a Czech citizen in China, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs should issue a travel warning for China. 'The Ministry must alert Czech citizens that even those traveling to China at the invitation of the Beijing authorities may be at risk of illegal detention.' He further suggested, 'Speaker Okamura should cancel this trip to China and work with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the President to adopt a firm stance. Now is the time to re-establish a close coordination mechanism for Czech foreign policy.'
On the 15th, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a Czech citizen has indeed been detained in China, and Czech diplomats in Beijing have been in contact with him. Okamura remarked that this detention incident is not part of his agenda for the visit and does not provide sufficient grounds to cancel the trip to China.
There are growing suspicions that the Chinese authorities detained this Czech citizen to exert pressure on the Czech government to secure the release of Yang Yiming, a Chinese journalist who has been charged in the Czech Republic for allegedly engaging in espionage activities. Yang Yiming, a reporter for the Chinese Communist Party's "Guangming Daily" based in Prague, has been found to be affiliated with Chinese intelligence agencies, where he has been monitoring and gathering intelligence on specific individuals within the political and academic spheres in Prague.
Reports indicate that Lubomir Lipavsky, the former Czech Foreign Minister and current member of the opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS), criticized the Foreign Ministry for failing to issue a formal travel warning for trips to China, both after the detention of Yang Yiming in January and following the detention of a Czech businessman in China at the end of June. He pointed out that issuing travel warnings for high-risk countries is a standard practice for the Ministry. He remarked, "If it is indeed true, as suggested by external sources, that China detained a Czech citizen to exchange for a Chinese spy, then the government should at least inform Czech citizens about the risks of traveling to China, as they could become hostages. However, the government has not communicated this so far."
In response, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka stated on Czech television, "There is absolutely no reason to change the consular travel advice for China. This situation is unrelated to general tourism; it is simply an isolated case, and we will continue to monitor it closely."
Comprehensive reports from foreign media indicate that Czech politics has long been characterized by a tug-of-war between two opposing forces: one led by the late former president Václav Havel, which staunchly defends human rights and fosters friendly relations with Taiwan (including current president Petr Pavel, Senate president Miloš Vystrčil, and House speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová); the other consists of pro-communist or appeasement factions that seek to gain economic advantages by accommodating the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The CCP's practice of detaining Czech citizens during sensitive periods is a familiar tactic of diplomatic intimidation, reminiscent of the 'Two Michaels' incident involving Canada. Should the Czech House speaker proceed with the planned visit to Beijing at this time, it would not only be perceived by the international community as a sign of weakness and compromise towards authoritarianism, but it would also effectively provide the CCP with a bargaining chip, sending the misleading message that 'as long as you detain your people, they will obediently come to pay tribute.'
Under the CCP's regime, any foreigner in China who takes photographs of public facilities, engages in conversations with local dissidents, or even posts critical comments about the CCP online risks being accused of 'endangering national security' or 'suspected of espionage.'
Following the revision and implementation of national security laws such as the "Anti-Espionage Law" and the "State Secrets Protection Law" by the Chinese Communist Party on July 1, 2023, the risks for foreigners operating in China have risen dramatically. The Chinese authorities can enforce the law at their discretion, declaring, "If you are accused of a crime, you are guilty," which has transformed China into a high-risk legal minefield. Czech lawmakers have urged the issuance of travel warnings, not only to safeguard the lives and property of their citizens but also to further unveil the harsh truth of "China's current lack of safety and rule of law" to the international community. This development is in perfect alignment with the trend of foreign investments and Taiwanese businesses increasingly decoupling from the Chinese market in recent years.
Czechia was formerly a communist state. In 1989, the renowned "Velvet Revolution" took place in Czechia, where the people successfully overthrew the communist regime without bloodshed, restoring democracy and freedom, and leading to a significant economic turnaround. In recent years, Czechia and Taiwan have engaged in close interactions, fostering a very friendly bilateral relationship. Although the Czech government adheres to the "One China" policy, it practices a "value diplomacy" that prioritizes democracy and human rights, resulting in profound exchanges between the two sides in trade, technology, and culture. Taiwan's investments and job creation in Czechia far exceed those of China in the region.
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